possible to leave car running by mistake

No. Whenever I get out with the engine running and shut the door the car beeps very distinctly from outside.

 

Yes, it is ABSOLUTELY possible to leave the car running. You must push the on/off button to turn the car off before exiting. This is especially true for those with the Smart-Key System (SKS). When you leave the car with your smart key in your pocket or purse, it does not turn off the car!

 

Hi Linda,

As jbarnhart pointed out, it is very possible to do this.

Since you have a package 8, you have the SKS system...which beeps 4 times to alert you when the car is still "on" and you get out of the car. However, I have found that those beeps are pretty quiet and are very hard to hear if you are in a loud environment.

Two things to note about leaving the car in this state:
1. Anyone can get in and drive away, although if they turn the vehicle "Off" they will not be able to turn it "On" again without the SKS fob.
2. When left in the "On" position the battery does "drain" fairly quickly, which in turn will kick on the ICE (gas motor). If left "On" long enough, the vehicle will run out of gas and the batteries will fully drain.

So, you need to be really careful about leaving the car in the "On" position. It does take some time to get used to...but now I keep reaching for the "On/Off" button in every car I drive, even when it does not have one!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Linda Rosen @ Jul 22 2006, 12:42 PM) [snapback]290534[/snapback]</div>

No.

Locking the car as you leave is the key. The system won't let you if it is still running.

How many people actually just leave without locking? I never have, even in my garage. If nothing else, it's a guarnantee that there isn't a drain on the 12-volt from having a door ajar.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ Jul 22 2006, 02:26 PM) [snapback]290556[/snapback]</div>

Are you sure about this?

What if I do the following:

1. Put the car in Park, but leave it on.
2. Open the driver's side door.
3. Lock the doors by pushing the rocker switch on the (inside of the) driver's door.
4. Close the door.

It's definately true that it won't let you lock via SKS (or the fob button?) when the car is running, but if you try to lock it in this (more "traditional") way, will the car stop you?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 22 2006, 11:39 AM) [snapback]290561[/snapback]</div>

Not sure if it'll let you lock it with the button, but there was a post on here earlier about doing this on purpose to keep the dog cool in the car while in the store. I can't remember, but I think you may have to use the key to lock the driver's door from the outside. However, it can be done. I haven't tried it, but as the previous thread discussed, if you do this, it may be a good idea to make a sign or something letting people know that the A/C is on in this car, even though the ICE may not be running.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 22 2006, 11:39 AM) [snapback]290561[/snapback]</div>

Try it yourself; the door unlocks itself. Maybe the mechanical key would let you lock the door, I haven't tried it, but with all that effort, you couldn't leave the car on by mistake.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 22 2006, 01:39 PM) [snapback]290561[/snapback]</div>

With my Classic Prius, it would not. That was quite a surprise too. It took a minute for me to figure out why the heck the car was fighting me, preventing the lock from working.

With a non-SE/SS (sks) HSD Prius, I haven't ever tried.

 

You can leave the car running, but it will try to stop you. If you walk away without locking the door, it beeps four times. If you try to lock the door it will give one long beep, and the doors won't lock. I have several times waited for an appointment in my car with the system on and in park, and forgotten to turn it off before I got out. So far, the car has always succeeded in reminding me to turn it off. The people who say it is impossible are clearly not as absent minded or easily distracted as I am.

I have heard from a reliable witness of a Prius cycling on and off all night in the parking area of a backpacking trail head. For those who say 'impossible" I would respond; "I could do it." It would be harder if you are the kind of person who locks the car every time. Now that I have a car that is worth stealing I am trying to remember to lock the doors when I leave it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stairman @ Jul 22 2006, 06:33 PM) [snapback]290647[/snapback]</div>

I have watched Barbara walk away from her 2005 when she thought she locked it but had her second fob in the center console. She heard the car beep and thought all was fine. I heard the car's beep as NOT the one you get from locking the door. She wasn't paying enough attention (and the car was still new to her) to recognize the difference.

At least she didn't leave it running.

- Tom

 

What happens if you have two fobs -- one is in the car and the other is with you when you walk away?

If the car is still running, can you lock it from outside?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Jul 22 2006, 04:59 PM) [snapback]290679[/snapback]</div>

I know the answer to that question. The second day I got my car I found out. I went out of town 500 mi or so to get my car. My son found it in Helena Montana. I flew in did some fishing, visited with my son and picked up a car. So what to do with the extra fob? I put it in my bag! What else. Put the bag in the back of course, where else would you put a bag? On the way out of town I ran a few errands and could not lock the door the car kept beeping at me and would not lock. I dragged the fob out and locked the door. After doing this twice I dragged the owners manual out and looked up the beep page and the sun rose I had the second fob in the trunk and the car new that and would not let me easily lock the door. Just Belle trying to take care of me! You can leave the fob in a car but it must be in a metal box

 

I imagine this is easy with SKS and if you've disabled any beeps.

I don't have SKS, so not a problem. Not only do I have to power off but the car beeps if my fob is still in the slot. One of the advantages of having a package #1.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas @ Jul 22 2006, 08:47 PM) [snapback]290693[/snapback]</div>

My wife often wants to leave her puse in the car with the fob in it. If you disable the SKS (switch under steering column) then you can lock and unlock the car with the buttons on the second fob. No need for a metal box!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marjam @ Jul 22 2006, 09:04 PM) [snapback]290701[/snapback]</div>

Boy, you folks in Maryland are kinky. :blink: :lol:

 

With SKS, you CANNOT lock the car with the fob with the POWER on OR with a fob inside the car somewhere close enough for the ignition to read it. You CAN however, lock the car with the power ON, with the MECHANICAL key, and then, to unlock it, you need to use the MECHANICAL key again--the fob is deactivated. I discovered this recently when I needed to leave my dog in the car on a VERY hot day, so I did some experimenting, thereby discovering I could indeed leave doggie in car w/ ac on and all doors locked. I believe Godiva warned me to put up a sign indicating that the dog was not on his way to becoming baked poodle, but was sitting in way more comfort than the rest of us, to protect my windows from being smashed by animal humanitarians committing a "rescue." (NOTE: I WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT THE DOG IN THE CAR THAT DAY HAD I NOT DISCOVERED THIS SKS WORKAROUND!!!!) My first thought about "Air conditioning on inside car" sign was "GREAT." Then I started wondering, would I be protecting myself from the humanitarians at the risk of notifying malefactors of a running car...? Anyway, I don't often have the dog out with me in situations where I have to leave him, so it won't crop up often. BUT, for the v. quick trips into the market for popsicles during heatwaves, it's good to know about, so I can leave it running for those few minutes and don't have to make the car work harder to regain cool...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jburns @ Jul 22 2006, 09:22 PM) [snapback]290711[/snapback]</div>

We are kinky even when we can't spell (or type)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marjam @ Jul 22 2006, 08:37 PM) [snapback]290778[/snapback]</div>

How 'bout them Orolies?

 

The alternative to using the mechanical key to lock the front door with the power 'on' is to lower the driver's side window, exit the vehicle, reach in and lock the doors (manually or electrically), then auto-raise the driver's door and quickly remove your arm before it closes. And, just like locking the car with the mechanical key, the mechanical key is then the only way to get back into the car using this method, as well.

This is also the only way (that I'm aware of) by which someone could lock their key in the car (either with or without it running). But it is necessary for the power to be 'on' since the windows will not operate after the power has been turned off and a door has been opened.

Hopefully, someone is not very likely to follow this procedure by mistake.